#krauser: i thought i killed you????

[gigi-does-art]

I’ve seen fanart of Luis being in re6 and fanart of Krauser being in re6, so I give you an au where they both end up being in re6:

[sapphire-weapon]

The first time Ashley really looks at Leon without being in full fight-or-flight, he looks like such a fucking asshole LMAO

And their character models are literally too close together for me to get POV shots while Leon's holding her after the catch (their actual literal eyeballs got in the way), so I just got as close as I could without it looking weird, and:

I can't find a platonic explanation for this moment. He could have just put her down. He just puts her down every single time he catches her after this. And judging from his reaction and considering the thoroughness of his training and his readiness for this mission, there's absolutely no way that Ashley is the first person he's caught after a jump like that -- so it's not even like he's stunned that he managed to pull it off. He doesn't ask her if she's okay, doesn't give her an "I told you" or a "See?" Doesn't breathe a sigh of relief or show any signs of stress about having to do that at all.

He just... stands there. And holds her.

They don't even start off looking at each other; it's only when he lingers with her in his arms that they turn their heads and lock eyes. They both have just sort of fallen out of time and space. Their urgency to escape is momentarily forgotten.

It's so much different from Leon watching Ada's chopper at the end of the game -- when there's a thousand different thoughts and doubts and questions and conflicting feelings zipping through his mind, ranging from their complicated past to her unknown employer to the fact that he just let her walk away with whatever Krauser had killed Luis over, and there's no taking back that decision now that he's made it.

This is the complete opposite. Instead of having racing thoughts, Leon is experiencing an absence of thought. He completely forgets himself -- his position, his status, his rank, his mission -- forgets who he is, what he's doing here, and why he's with Ashley in the first place. A connection forms between them in this moment, and they both feel it.

And for that moment, Leon suddenly is no longer a top secret government asset with experimental training holding his mission objective, the president's daughter, after a jump. He's a man holding a woman, in a way that feels inexplicably meaningful, on a chill autumn night as the rain comes down around them.

It's such a classical example of the Held Gaze trope in romance stories that it should be on the fucking wikipedia page for it.

[frogchiro]

I don’t see a lot of Krauser fans!!! I’d love to know what kind of thoughts you have on him. What type of lover is he? How would you meet him/how would he find you?

Hello nonnie!! You have no idea how happy I am to spread the love for my favorite major, you do not understand how obsessed and in love I am with that man an I'm determined to spread more love for this underrated glorious king </3

As for Krauser himself, not only is he criminally underrated but his character is very much overlooked, especially his trauma and motivations which led him to do what he did. Did he do bad things? Yes. Is he a villain? For some sure, I see him more like an antagonist. Does his past excuse what he did? No but I see where it came from.

Unfortunately we don't know anything really about his past but I think it's a big shame how his more recent past and present are overlooked :((

I honestly see Krauser as a very peculiar lover; he's still a hardass, he's gruff and growly, he has seen things during his years in the military but he's loyal down to the marrow of his bones and sooner hell would freeze over than he'd allow anything to happen to you.

Literally one of the reasons he became bad was because he went insane after he had to watch his entire unit get killed off (during Operation Javier in the remake) and the government whom he served loyally for many years just up and abandoned him in that jungle.

Plus I think that acts of service and touch would be his main love language. He doesn't seem like someone who would pour his heart out with dramatic poetry, his love is quiet but loud in its own way. Imagine Jack being so used to and honed for looking out for danger that it's basically a need for him to always have an eye on you, always has to make sure that you're there, safe, with him.

[blueysobssesions]

A Scene that haunts him forever...

~ He comes home not expecting the place full of blood... You and your child's blood...

(I'm so so sorry for making this :,) )

Characters ~ : Leon Kennedy, Chris Redfield, Albert Wesker, Jack Krauser ( Literally dads)

No… No! This can't be happening! He dropped his bag and stood there. The living room was almost painted with blood. He felt a cold shiver run down his spine as he saw you lying motionless on the floor. A knife was planted in your stomach, and… Oh god, his child… He fell to his knees and let out a scream of anguish. Tears were streaming down his face. “NO! NO! FUCK NO!” He yelled with agony; he couldn't look at the scene. His heart was pounding and his hands were shaking. He looked at you. Your eyes were closed while holding yours and his baby lifeless; he wanted to scream, hurt himself, and get revenge on whoever did this to his family. He felt like his world had collapsed, and he was unable to comprehend how someone could be so cruel. The pain and anger inside him were overwhelming, and he knew that he would never be the same again. He tried to get up and walk towards you. “Y/n… D/n… Please no…” He reached his hands to your cold cheek, His voice was weak and trembling. “I love the both of you… I promise I'll kill whoever did this,” he said…

“I.. I'm sorry, captain..."

“Piers… Please tell me I'm dreaming." Chris voice was shaky "I wish I could, Captain... But what we saw back there was..." Piers became silent when he saw Chris crying. He was devastated by what he said, and neither Piers nor the others knew that there was no easy way to console him. Chris suddenly slammed his desk. “Who... Who did it!” he yelled, and the others behind the door were worried. “We… We don't know... There were no clues that the victim left behind.” Chris was losing his balance; he sat down on his chair with a miserable face. “C/n… Is c/n okay...? Please tell me their okay" He pleaded, He can't handle losing you and his child at the same time. Tears streamed down his face as he waited for a response. The silence on the other end of the line was deafening, making him fear the worst. “I'm… sorry…” When he heard that, he broke down. The door was opened wide, revealing Jill with teary eyes. “Chris!” She ran towards him and embraced him tightly. She could feel him trembling as she whispered, "It's okay, it's okay, shush...." Piers couldn't help but cry too. You brought so much happiness to everyone. Your memory will always be cherished.

“Jake? Son, are you here?” He asked as he searched the living room. “Daddy!!” His head looked to his left, seeing his son with a teary and trembling figure running towards him. He immediately crouched down to embrace his son, asking him what was wrong. “Is everything alright? Where's mom? “S-something happened! M-mommy was screaming!” Suddenly, Wesker's eyes turned red. “Go stay at Uncle Chris; I'll handle this okay.” Jake nodded his head and went to the house next door. He stood up and walked towards the shared bedroom, not expecting this. The bed was covered in blood—your blood. He froze in shock, trying to make sense of what he was seeing. There you were, lying lifeless on the bed with a knife on your neck. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. ”Oh god… Dearest…" He walks to your side He checked for your pulse, and his heart sank as he realized that there was no pulse. He leaned down and kissed your forehead, saying, “Don't worry, my dear… I will show no mercy to whoever did this for now. Rest.”

He cries in agony as he held you and his child in his arms. “Please no… No…” he begged, His voice trembled as he looked at you with tear-filled eyes, his heart breaking at the thought of losing his family. His shirt was covered by you and his child's blood but he didn't care. Who would do this? He wished that he was dreaming all of this but no, it was all real. “I'll find whoever did this… I promise… I'll kill them for the both of you” he said as he clenched his fists, feeling the anger boiling inside him.

[giveamadeuschohisownmovie]

As someone who grew up with RE4, which is my all-time favorite game, I feel like I have to swallow my pride and put the nostalgia glasses away because not only is it a good remake, it did do some things better than the original. Just off the top of my head:

1) Luis’ death. I always thought Luis was wasted in the original, especially since his death was anticlimactic. He just sorta dies and the game moves on. In the remake, he gets killed by Krauser, which is a HUGE improvement since it makes the conflict between Leon and Krauser feel more personal, which gives Luis’ death more narrative weight.

2) Ashley Graham in general. The redesign, the voice acting, the improved characterization. I went from feeling compelled to protect her to actually wanting to protect her. In one game, she went from zero to Ellie Williams (not a perfect example, but you get the point).

3) The change in tone. I’m fairly neutral to the “action movie” era of Resident Evil, but I do agree that the tone was off when compared to the previous games. The remake feels a bit like course correction since the story is mostly the same, but the tone is more in line with the older Resident Evil games. Less action hero, more survival horror.

4) The cult stuff feels a bit more thought out here.

5) Hunnigan in general. I like that she’s an actual character here and not just a face on my phone.

6) The Krauser boss fight is an actual fight, not just you mashing QTEs.

7) The storyline and characters feel more thought out in general. We actually get to see Leon’s transition from Raccoon City cop to secret agent, Luis’ character got expanded on, the feud with Krauser felt more personal, and so on. Capcom took the Resident Evil game that wasn’t really known for its amazing story (let’s be real here) and actually improved it.

I guess that was to be expected since making the story more serious meant that the plot had to be updated. Resident Evil games tend to get a pass for their thin storytelling since players usually don’t take the story seriously due to how cheesy and campy they are, which is fine since that’s part of the appeal. But by making the story more serious, you’re telling players that they need to actually be invested in what’s going on, which you can’t do if the story is thin. All this to say that the darker tone and improved storytelling feels like a mutual thing.

[kittycatlukey]

“I Love You.” — L.K.

Tagging @alespov ✨

Leon Kennedy x Fem Reader

Part 1/1

Warning: mild language, violence, usage of weapons, death, angst, and some RE4 spoilers!

You and Leon were good friends. Replace good with best. You two confided in each other, protected one another, and were in love but it was left unspoken. But it was obviously felt. There was a pull between you that couldn’t be denied. And anyone with a pair of eyes could see you and Leon cared for each other. You would die if it meant keeping the other alive. That’s what love is supposed to be, right?

“I’ve been waiting for you, rookie.” Krauser flipped his knife in the air and caught it. “Oh, worried about the girl, is that it? Hmm, that’s just like you. You always had poor judgment. You’d better be worried about the one beside you too.” He chuckled, taunting Leon. “But if you think I’m going to let both of you out of here alive… you’re even more naive than I thought. You can’t save them. You can’t save anyone!”

Your heart was pounding against your chest as you stood beside Leon.

“Give it up, Krauser!” Leon yelled at him. “Being a lackey for these maniacs… won’t bring your men back. And what the hell for? Revenge on the government? You think they would want that?”

“Revenge? You think I’m doing all this… for revenge?” Krauser asked Leon, looking down at him.

“Isn’t that what this is all about?” Leon questioned.

“You see, in that jungle, I had a revelation. The most important thing in this world is pure, unadulterated power! Los Iluminados have given me that.” Krauser stated.

Leon responded in retaliation, “You know, you were always an asshole. But at least you had some kind of code, some honor! And look at you now.”

“Enough reminiscing. Move out and draw fire, soldier.” Krauser did a backflip and drew on Leon with his assault rifle.

And for some reason, time didn’t slow, it felt as if time quickened. As soon as I seen Krauser had his gun aimed at Leon, I moved in front of him. I had moved just at the right time.

And I had been shot, taking not one but three bullets for Leon. One hit my left shin, another hit my left thigh, and the last one hit the right side of my stomach.

In that moment, I felt my entire body go numb. I couldn’t feel anything as Leon dragged me behind cover. He then ripped parts of his t-shirt off in an attempt to stop my bleeding, but we both knew it would be futile.

“Y/N, why would you do that?! Taking bullets for me?! Are you crazy?!” Leon had shouted, tears evident in his now reddened eyes.

“I would never let you die, Leon.” I murmured, feeling light headed already. “Get up and kill that sick son of a bitch. I’ll be fine for now.”

Leon nodded, the color had already left his face.

“And hey.” I grabbed his hand, staring into his ocean blue eyes. “I love you, Leon.”

“Y/N… I love you.” Leon spoke, his voice wavering. “I’m sorry.”

And with that, he had went to fight Krauser. The last thing I heard before I passed out was Krauser’s voice.

“Better run, rookie!”

~~~~

My body was shaken until my eyes opened. My eyes fluttered openly slowly; they felt so heavy. At first, my vision was blurry. My eyes took a long time to focus but once they did, I noticed Leon was the one above me.

“You have to stay alive. Please. Please don’t go. Please don’t leave me.” He pleaded before his bloody, calloused hands released my shoulders and cradled my face.

I wasn’t sure if the blood on his hands were mine, his, or Krauser’s. Maybe even a combination of the three.

“Goddamnit, stay awake!” His loud voice forced my eyes open again that I didn’t realize I had closed again.

“L-Leon. I don’t know how much longer I can stay… Just know… that I’ve loved y-you for a long, long time.” I told him weakly. “I’d do anything for you.”

Leon had tears rolling down his face. “I know. And I’d do anything for you… I’ve loved you for a long, long time too.”

I smiled when he said that. Even though I was dying from blood loss, I was the happiest I’d ever been knowing he felt the same way about me, and that he was getting to live. I didn’t care if it costed my life. I had nothing left to lose.

“You killed Krauser?”

He nodded.

“Good. I knew you could.” I replied before closing my eyes again. At this point the numbness had worn off and I could feel each bullet where they were lodged inside me. It felt like my whole body was on fire. “G-Go save Ashley. P-Please.” I spoke but it was barely a whisper. I don’t even know if it was even audible.

“No, no. Please stay with me, Y/N.” Leon pleaded once again, caressing my face. “I love you.”

It hurt me that he sounded so helpless and sad.

“Don’t die on me!” Leon shouted trying to wake me up again.

And this time, I had no choice but to let go…

~~~~

This was a sad one… Sorry about my writing being rusty. I haven’t written anything in about six months. Hope you all liked it though! Love you all! 🫶

If anyone is wondering, college is going great! It’s hard and stressful, but so fun. Just turned 20, and I start clinicals in May. I made the President’s List (4.0 GPA with at least 12 credit hours) each semester I’ve been going. I have some good friends, and have been staying very busy with homework and studying. I have a very important exam that I’ll have to start studying for so send me some positive vibes! They’re very much appreciated. Then my boards will be coming up. But it’ll all be worth it in the end! I graduate this year: December 2024! So excited about that! 🤍🩺🫀

[fonulyn]

for @kreonweek Day 6: Downward spiral and/or toxicity (a little loosely sorry) (warnings: MCD)

“I’m dying, aren’t I.” The words were accompanied by the wheezes that had become the soundtrack of their reunion. Leon looked way too calm about it, the words not even a question, rather a statement. He had let Krauser give him the green herbs, the mixed herbs, the first aid spray even although it did nothing to poison and only worked on external injuries. Yet none of it worked, and he wasn’t getting better. When he’d woken up he had been able to move his arms, but now that was gone too. He could barely keep his head up where he was sitting next to the wall.

Krauser had unlatched the chains. Leon wasn’t going anywhere, not with him or without. He’d moved the thin mattress on the ground, and for the past hour or two they’d been sitting there side by side. The more time passed, the more heavily Leon leaned against Krauser, weaker and weaker with every second that crept by. His head was resting on Krauser’s shoulder now, Krauser’s arm around him.

So many times Krauser had fantasized about them meeting again. So many times he’d imagined having Leon in his arms again, this close to him, but none of the fantasies had been like this. It had been all hard edges clashing, their worlds colliding and crashing together in a fiery burst of passion. He had expected fighting and butting heads, but them eventually falling into each other like they were supposed to.

Yet here he was, holding Leon close, as Leon was slowly dying. Slowly dying of what Krauser had injected him with. A part of Krauser wanted to rush to Saddler, to demand answers, to demand an antidote so he could fix this and save Leon. But he wasn’t stupid. Saddler had no incentive to help him, and there was no way he would willingly part with that information. His main goal was to get rid of Leon, probably to get rid of Krauser too, and he wouldn’t help only because Krauser demanded him to.

So Krauser had two choices: rush off and let Leon die alone, or stay with him until the bitter end.

In reality that was not a choice at all.

“I know this is stupid,” Leon said, slowly, each word measured and careful as if he had to fight to get them out. He probably did. His breaths were warm but slow against Krauser’s neck, and he wasn’t even trying to get any distance between them. If anything it was like he was trying to melt as close to Krauser as he could. “But can I ask you for something?”

Krauser held his breath, squeezing his eyes shut so tight it almost hurt. He remembered a time when Leon would’ve looked at him from those bright blue eyes, trusting him, willing to do anything for him. And while Krauser had been aware that the two of them killing each other was an option, ever since he chose to walk away, this was never how it was supposed to happen. He’d made peace with the thought of dying by Leon’s hand, or living the rest of his life with Leon’s blood on his hands.

Not this. Not like this.

Only after a long time Krauser realized he hadn’t answered Leon’s question. He felt Leon slipping, unable to even properly sit anymore, so he moved until he was lying down, Leon’s prone form tucked as close as humanly possible, half on top of him. He pushed his fingers into Leon’s hair, brought his other arm around him, and he didn’t think he imagined the soft sigh that fell from Leon. “Ask me,” he said, then, his own voice gruff and clipped.

“Please let Ashley go home,” Leon whispered into Krauser’s chest.

In that moment, everything was clear. Krauser pressed his face into Leon’s hair, slowly inhaling the scent of gunpowder and blood and just Leon. He knew this was it. Leon was breathing slower and slower, not even trying to move at all anymore. He was slipping away.

Krauser closed his eyes. The words just tumbled out of him. “I love you.”

Leon could no longer answer.

[courtofparrots]

Serennedy Pride Week Day 1: First Kiss

A little ficlet of Leon and Luis recovering in the hospital post-Spain

When Luis got hurt- when it looked like he had died- Leon didn’t think he’d be able to bear it this time. 

Don’t get attached he’d repeated to himself, but he hadn’t been able to help it. Not with Luis, anyway. Not with that loud personality, that charming smile, that- everything about him, really.

But Luis hadn’t died as he’d just come to find out. For once, Leon didn’t have to bear another loss, and now he didn’t know how to act.

He stood motionless in the doorway to Luis’s hospital room in some BSAA-owned facility in some corner of Europe that they had been dumped at for medical attention after the chopper had picked up him and Ashley. He’d overheard talk of another man being pulled out of Valdelobos and brought here, allegedly the only other survivor found that night. He was positive it wouldn’t be Luis. With Leon’s luck it was probably Krauser, or worse. He was so sure that when he walked into the room and saw Luis there, covered in tubes and tape and the slow but steady beep beep beep of a heart monitor indicating life, Leon had simply frozen.  

A pair of gray eyes drifted open, and Leon thought he might have stopped breathing then. A sleepy smile pulled up the corners of Luis’s mouth as he caught sight of Leon, “not dead, eh?” he croaked, snapping Leon out of his stupor. He skulked over to the bedside of the beat up Spaniard, pulling up a chair and sitting down at a reasonable distance.

“Who? You or me?” Leon asked, as nonchalantly as he could, twitching his hand in the direction of Luis’s where it was pressed against his side with an IV needle poking out of it, covered in tape that would be sure to yank all of the thin black hairs out when it was removed. He thought better of it before he could actually touch him, and let his hand drop back to his side awkwardly. Luis tracked the motion with his eyes.

“Me.” Luis said, scooting his hand to the edge of the bed and weakly raising his fingers, moving them shakily toward Leon’s dropped hand. Leon did actually reach out this time, if only because he didn’t like the way Luis was straining. He slid his hand underneath the Spaniard’s and began to rub back and forth across tan fingers with his thumb in a stilted motion, attempting and probably failing to be soothing. It was nice. The weight and warmth of Luis’s hand in his own, a simple yet invaluable reminder that Luis really had made it, even in this subpar condition.

“I wasn’t sure I was going to make it for a moment there,” Luis chuckled, “although maybe I should have been worried about you, too. You look like shit, Sancho.”

Leon couldn’t help the smirk that tugged his lips at that, “I promise you look worse.” 

They settled into companionable conversation for a moment, Leon still holding Luis’s hand- the same one he’d held when he thought Luis was experiencing his final moments, he realized. Luis told him about the extent of his injuries, a collapsed lung and lots of lost blood, and Leon filled Luis in on what happened after he left the mines. How he’d saved Ashley, and killed Saddler, how they managed to cure their plagas with Luis’s equipment.

“By the way,” Leon said after a lull, curiosity thumping in his chest, “you said we were almost something. Before Krauser stabbed you. Almost what?”

Luis looked sheepish for a second, before finally replying, “Friends. I was… I was going to say we’re almost friends.”

“Friends? It feels like a little more than that,” Leon said, flicking his gaze down to their joined hands, “doesn’t it?” 

He felt his face heat up as soon as the words were out of his mouth. Luis’s eyes were wide when he looked back up, searching his face for something. 

Maybe the hospital wasn’t the right place for a confession. Maybe thirty-six hours together and several near-death experiences didn’t qualify a bond like the one Leon felt spark in his chest every time he looked at Luis. 

Leon had tried not to get attached but he hadn’t been able to help himself. There was something there with Luis, that he hadn’t felt in… maybe ever. Leon wasn’t going to just let it go without saying anything, not when he had Luis back and safe. He’d blame it on the pain meds the doctors had given him, or temporary insanity, or something if Luis didn’t feel the same way.

The beep beep beep of Luis’s heart monitor sped up slightly. 

“What?” He asked, in barely a whisper, “more?”

“I mean, if you wanted,” Leon said, clearing his throat, “I wouldn’t mind trying. To be more, I mean.”

Luis seemed to surge forward suddenly, before wincing and falling back onto his pillow with a pained groan like he had momentarily forgotten he was badly injured. Leon took his cue.

“Easy there, Don Quixote.” He murmured, rising out of his chair and leaning into Luis’s space, one forearm braced on the pillow beside Luis’s head, a palm placed gently on his warm cheek. Leon let his eyes drop down to Luis’s lips and then back up, letting the question show in his eyes.

“Leon,” Luis rasped, “if you don’t kiss me right now, I am going to hurt you, and probably myself in the process.” 

Leon smiled into the kiss when he finally pressed their lips together, joy and relief settling behind his ribs. Luis was alive, he was okay, and he wanted to try being more. He wanted to try with Leon. 

He broke the kiss when the heart monitor turned shrill, a constant beepbeepbeep that made Leon worry he’d disconnected one of the many tubes from Luis’s body on accident, or that he was hurting him somehow.

Luis simply glared at the heart monitor as he let his head drop back onto the pillow. “Pain in my ass,” he muttered at it, “spilling all my secrets.”

Leon actually laughed; the whole situation suddenly made him feel so light. “Feeling a little excited?” He teased, and Luis blushed. It was insanely cute. 

He probably should have given Luis and his poor heart a break then, but he was too happy. Instead, he nudged Luis over and climbed into the bed with him, wrapping an arm over the Spaniard’s shoulder so that they could both be comfortable and drawing Luis’s head onto his shoulder. Luis sighed and melted into him, muscles relaxing and eyes fluttering shut. It wasn’t long before he was fast asleep against Leon’s chest.

Leon took in the deep breaths coming from Luis, the way his lips were slightly parted, the contrast of his dark lashes fanned across tan cheeks. He followed quickly into a deep sleep of his own, one of the best he’d had in years.

[clayderogatory]

okay let me just say i am a big music nerd and also a big resident evil nerd. put two and two together, and now you have this. greetings and salutations everyone and today i am going to analyze and discuss the 4 major boss themes in resident evil 4 remake and my interpretations of each one.

note that i am no big music theory major, but i know way too much about resident evil and i know how music can influence how someone can feel and how it can relate to the characters they are for.

the bosses i am going to be talking about are as follows:

Bitores Méndez, Ramón Salazar, Krauser, and Osmund Saddler.

they will go in order right under the cut!! i hope u enjoy because this actually took hours to write im not even kidding.

Bitores Méndez:

Starting off with Méndez, his boss theme is very very different from the OG. What the Remake has, I believe it further demonstrates and shows to the player through music more insight on how he is presented in the game.

In the original, his theme is really just...eerie. It's unsettling, with much of it being very high pitched and almost just screaming in your ear. Some really other good examples of this are like—for instance—the very end of the Undertale Genocide route or like Something in Omori. It's made to be unnerving, like something is incredibly wrong in the situation you are in. But for Méndez's theme in the OG, it's really as far as it goes. It's just high pitched noises with creepy sound effects, almost like something is chasing you. There's even remnants of someone screaming in the background if you listen super closely.

The thing I love with the Remake is that they added so much more to this theme. Firstly, they kept that eerie high pitched noise that was primarily in the OG's soundtrack, in the background. That feeling and that aspect is still there in the song, but they added more instruments so that it was definitely more of a boss theme. There's drums, violins, tubas, etc. Those were at least the main ones I heard upon inspection.

Méndez is supposed to be the first big bad in re4r, he's kind of like the strong and seemingly invincible character for a good long while. He doesn't talk much, he's just there to follow Saddler's orders and to carry out his will. You have to try to avoid him in many cases because you can't get past him, but now you're in a situation where you have no other choice but to fight him. The music really amplifies this because it really conveys that feeling that he's like a mindless soldier. He's extremely intimidating, a lot of the music feels like it isn't leading up to this big finale or any sort of release. It's meant to build up tension or suspense, and it isn't much of a build up.

Méndez is there for the purpose to kill, with Las Plagas infecting his mind so badly he doesn't even have thoughts of his own anymore. That's only the first half of the song, because the second does get interesting.

It turns very fast paced and hurried. Like a cat and mouse chase, there's even an added primarily male choir in there to further add to the eerie feeling. It gets a lot more intense, because further in the fight, Leon is doing more to injure Méndez and that tension is finally rising to where it's a much more intense battle because Méndez had mutated a second time and now they are at each other's throats and the heat of battle and the burning building is probably getting to the both of them. And the tension is rising, rising, the music gets louder and its crescendoing more and more and then, it goes quiet.

it's not a big flashy ending, it just fades out to quietness. all of it is over, you can take a break and let what just happened sink in. it's so much more interesting and i do love they incorporated the same eerie noises from the OG into the remake's.

----

Ramón Salazar:

Up next we have Ramòn Salazar, and his remake theme is one of my favorites in the whole game. But starting with the OG, it lays a pretty decent foundation. There's that eerieness to it in the first, but then it grows a bit bigger. It primarily has a lot of organ parts to it. Plainly stating, Ramòn is from Royalty, he lives in a castle and had people do his bidding and such. His official title is of a Castilian.

He is also very weak compared to everyone else, and he hides behind the stronger ones with his rank and title. Organs are very primarily used in settings of where we are now, a very gothic style castle where before Los Illuminados came, everyone there was very Catholic. Which in other cases, they can be heard in churches as well. They're typically seen as very creepy instruments that unnerve many people. There's also usage of violins and a choir, which give this feeling of almost like a Haunted Mansion like sound as if there were ghosts taunting you.

Interestingly enough, there's also some more modern hints in the song with a faint electric bass in there. It's also a little waltzy, like it has elements where you could kinda dance to it. It has a similar tension where it rises and rises and then goes quiet again.

But what I really want to get to now is his remake theme, holy shit it is so so SO amazing. Ramòn in remake is very vastly different from OG, he has that same element of being weak and using his authority to always have a higher ground, but he isn't nearly as cowardly. He has a way more sadistic mind to him, and even in records found in the game, he was described to be this nasty little guy who reveled in seeing people suffer.

he also presents the whole section as like a story or a play. He calls Leon a "gallant knight" and Ashley the "princess fair." He's over dramatic, and he sees himself as a higher being than the others. Except for Saddler, because he worships the man—like everyone else.

Already within the theme we are starting off BIG, it's loud, dramatic, very fitting to how he sees everything as a show, a drama even. We get a lot of build up within the first 35 seconds or so. They utilize a lot of choir parts within this, mainly SSA (sopranos and altos) to make it very high pitched and giving that eerie vibe again. The title of the song comes into play too, "Baile de la Muerte," or as translated, The Dance of Death. Already off the bat it sounds as dramatic as the music is, and because the song is very much a waltz.

It's also something to note that Ramón moves around a LOT in this fight, similar to how you move in a dance. But he looks a lot more like a horrifyingly mutilated bug so it's more annoying than anything.

String instruments are HUGE in this song, and especially that choir part mentioned earlier coming in really heavy towards the middle. There is some more SATB (soprano, alto, tenor, bass) at this part compared to the beginning. There's already so much tension because the song starts big and keeps. getting. BIGGER. towards the end the choir part keeps striking with more and more tension, its keeps building and building, and then HUGGEEE beat drop where there is just this beautiful and amazing finale that is just so so SO dramatic and theatrical. it's like the big end to a show, the strings are fast and furious as the drums are striking and LOUD, and what i believe to be brass instruments just killing it. and the final note ends on a high ass note for the choir and all the instruments coming together to deliver the end of this AMAZING track.

its a dramatic piece for an equally theatrical and dramatic character, and it leaves with this satisfying finish before ending and letting it all settle again.

---

Jack Krauser:

Now with Krauser's theme, it is my favorite in the whole game. I could loop it for hours because it's so catchy and it even ties back to previous lore with his character. Firstly to compare to the OG, the OG and remake are already extremely similar.

It's very strong and heavy, like how Krauser is. It's also very dramatic and one big thing to notice is that there is this kind of very fast drum that is prominent. It's kind of something that you would hear in a theme pertaining to jungles and whatnot, which IS important. I'll get to that in a moment, but, it's a very fast paced song. It does have that tension because Leon is facing a formidable for that he used to know. There's a lot of build ups ready for a beat drop that just adds so much to the intensity. There's not much to say because the melody and sound for this song is pretty much the same as remake, but obviously they expanded on it.

what i really want to get to is remake, because they utilize SO many elements in this to make it really powerful and to support Krauser's character. First and foremost, Krauser and Leon's relationship in remake is different than OG. In OG they were more "comrades" who fought with one another in the military, but in remake, Krauser and Leon, have this relationship where he was his mentor. They both know the same combat skills, it just comes down to who can apply them better in their fight. That's what makes Krauser so terrifying, because he knows everything Leon knows to a higher degree.

As well as that jungle aspect maybe coming from Darkside Chronicles that expanded on Leon and Krauser and Operation Javier. I thought that was a neat touch to add with the music as well, but anyways, this piece is powerful with the primarily male choirs, harmonies, and so. much. buildup. it's leading up to something so much bigger with it's fast paced structure. there's a lot of heavy drums that are just going and going, and it eventually leads to this HUGE beatdrop that really makes it feel more like a final battle. Leon is facing someone that was close to him, even if he was a huge asshole, he was Leon's mentor and taught him everything he knew.

it's so heavily dramatic because the stakes are high, Leon has to get to Ashley before it's too late and try not to get killed by his teacher. It repeats until at the end It leads up and up until it goes to this somber music. Leon has to kill someone he did care about. He proved himself worthy and now has to take the final blow, all while trying not to cry because he was forced into doing it. It leads up to this big big tense feeling until he strikes the blow and it's over.

"I taught you well, Leon."

"That you did, Major, that you did."

---

Osmund Saddler:

With Saddler, it's, again, similar to the OG and to be frank, I'm just gonna talk about the remake. Saddler is so interesting because the whole game has been leading up to him. He's a mystery, he is the leader of Los Illuminados, the one with all the control over everyone in the hivemind. With his theme, they really use a lot of the choir instead of the instruments taking over.

The reason due to this is probably all of the religious themes within Saddler and how he is literally a cult leader. within churches, there are usually church choirs that sing which is probably why it's very abundant in the theme. The music is matching with the choir a lot, and a lot of drums are used in this piece. Compared to some others, there are a lot of flowy parts to the song and also some very staccato moments where it's very on the dot. Especially in the middle where it's very big and intense.

This is a serious battle, Leon has to kill Saddler to get rid of Los Illuminados, and it isn't an easy task. They really keep that feeling of it being such a tough fight and that it is menacing, Saddler is not just a pushover. He wants to spread his cult across the world and he will stop at nothing to try and achieve that. It mainly repeats a lot due to it obviously being a boss theme and it will repeat until you kill the boss, but the ending is so interesting as it goes from this very flowy and moving section, and then it goes down, and then ends abruptly with even a hint of organ snuck in there.

Saddler is posed as a threat, on or off screen, and his theme definitely delivers on that as well.

---

and that is a wrap! if you made it to the end, you get a cookie 🍪

and if anyone wants to discuss anything more, feel free! these are my thoughts and ideas of all of these themes and how they relate to all of the characters they are for :)

[issa-pheonyx]

Yandere-sub!Plaga!Krauser&Leon X Fem!Agent!Reader🔪🌶️

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘂𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝘀𝗵𝗹𝗲𝘆…𝗻𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗱. 𝗦𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝗹𝘆, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗻'𝘁. 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲. 𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗹𝗹𝘂𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗱𝗼𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗲, 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗞𝗿𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗯 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁 𝗟𝗲𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗼𝗼. 𝗬𝗲𝘁, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗮 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘂𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗲𝘀~😈👀

▌│█║▌║▌║ L̳͈͉̅̊ȍ̸̢̢̮͚̐̚v̸̵̝͙͆̈ͤę̷̵̧̖̫̗̆̊ M̶̷̲̊ͥ͋͟ę̷̵̧̖̫̗̆̊ L̳͈͉̅̊ȍ̸̢̢̮͚̐̚v̸̵̝͙͆̈ͤę̷̵̧̖̫̗̆̊ M̶̷̲̊ͥ͋͟ę̷̵̧̖̫̗̆̊ L̳͈͉̅̊ȍ̸̢̢̮͚̐̚v̸̵̝͙͆̈ͤę̷̵̧̖̫̗̆̊ M̶̷̲̊ͥ͋͟ę̷̵̧̖̫̗̆̊ L̳͈͉̅̊ȍ̸̢̢̮͚̐̚v̸̵̝͙͆̈ͤę̷̵̧̖̫̗̆̊ M̶̷̲̊ͥ͋͟ę̷̵̧̖̫̗̆̊ ║▌║▌║█│▌

"GET IN THE HELICOPTER, ASHLEY!!!" You yelled as you grab her hand to guide her in. You grab the handle of the door only for Ashley to stop you,"NO, (Y/N)!! We both can make it!" Her eyes teary eyed and her bottom lip quivered. "Ashley, your safety matters to me. Go tell your dad that it's been fun." You forced a smile as your throat had the dry lump you attempted to swallow. Ashley had to be pulled away by one of the crew inside. "NO NO NO!!! STOP-" The door was closed and you crotch down to avoid not getting slashed by the rotor blades. "Alli esta!" The villagers pointed at you and you just put your hands up, going down on your knees. "I surrender." You said, the villagers look at each other as they were stunned by you throwing in the towel like that

They all nodded and went up to you as they grab your wrist, putting them behind your back, and tied them. They all surround you like a pack of dogs. You expected them to kill you at any given time. Instead they walked you back to the church. Saddler was there,"Ah, well if it isn't the special agent. You may have saved the president's daughter, but to be a sacrificial lamb yourself is enough for us to finish the ceremony." You scoffed and one of the villagers behind you kicks your back making you fall forward eating shit

You were then picked up again and slammed on the table, Saddler towers above you by your side. "May the sacrifice...begin!" Everyone cheers as a masked bloody man came with a huge ax. You didn't give in fear-no reaction. 'I completed my mission. That's all that matters.' You closed your eyes and thought about the times you actually had a normal convo with Ashely. Just something normal with another person other than dealing monsters and the governments bullshit. A tear stream down your temple,'I'm sorry, Ashley. It was the only way for you to be safe. Like a little sister I never had.'

Opening your eyes you see the ax already at a good distance to your head. Then an arrow was shot through his head. "Krauser!?" Saddler exclaimed glaring at him. You quickly roll back off the table as the ax pierces the table causing it to collapse into pieces. Your first instinct was to jump out the window and roll. Saddler looks out the window,"Get the girl!" He yelled and you just smirked thinking you were going to make it out of there. Only to have a tendril grab your ankle pulling you down to the ground and dragging you. "What the hell!?" You try to grab your knife that was by the other ankle, but you were now being held upside down. Eye to eye with none other than-

"Leon!?" His eyes were red and his body paler-dead like to say with veins revealing. "Hello, agent~" He said. "Y-You're losing it, Leon." You couldn't believe your eyes to see him infected. The plaga has already took control of him. "I'm still me, (Y/N). Always have." He gets close to your face only to stop when Saddler calls him out,"Mr. Kennedy, I would highly advise that you bring her back. She will be of no use for you or Krauser." Leon gives him a look and gently puts you down,"If you want to keep her then try to."

Leon grabs your hand signaling you to run. Saddler angrily yells his name, but you both ignored him. You followed whatever Leon was leading you, you can worry about fighting him off later. Eventually, you both stayed in an abandoned shed that was neglected or used for any other junk from the villagers. "Why are you doing this?" You asked him. He smiles,"Because I like you." Your eyebrow furrow as you slowly back up to bump into the table that was in the middle of the room. "If you're going to kill me just fucking put me out of my misery. I'm tired of all of this."

You move around the table still backing up as Leon just follows you around with a creepy smile on his face,"Why would I? After everything we've been through? You can't just back away from that." Your cheeks blushed and stop,"I-I don't know what you're talking about." He giggles and walks close to you, bodies inches away from each other,"I can show you~" He kneels down, keeping eye contact, uses one hand to grip your leg, and the other free hand caressing your hip,"Please, agent. Please...just tell me what to do." You gulped at the sight. It's been one hell of a mission you couldn't catch a break. This was so tempting~

The door slams open as you whip your head up thinking the worst of Saddler, but it was Krauser. "Leon, you got hell to pay!!" He marches in, slamming the door behind him, and stays in position. However, Leon has an irritated look on his face hearing Krauser. You budge Leon to move and he didn't. He's got the death grip. "Get out, Krauser!" Leon yelled and Krauser witnesses the sight, seeing Leon knelt down having his head nuzzled against your leg

You didn't know what to do. It was an awkward moment with them bickering back and forth. Acting like toddlers. "How about you get off of her first!" "Go find someone else, Krauser!" "She's mine, not yours. I'm taking her!" "I'm not letting you take her to Saddler." "Who said I wanted to!?" Wait...they're not going to take you to Saddler. Is there some kind of arrangement going on? "The fuck am I doing here then!? Just do what you both have to do. I'm tired of this shit!"

Seriously, though you were so done. They both look at you wide eyed from your scary yell. That's when they both look at each other and then at you. The boys smirked and all of a sudden you were placed on the table. Confusion and concern triggered your fight or flight. Flight was the first on mind, but when you did Krauser had his arm locked under your pits,"Let me go!! LET ME GO-MMPH!?" Krauser grabbed your jaw to turn your head to kiss you. He was strong that for sure. Moving your legs wouldn't do shit since it was distinctly not hitting anyone. "(Y/N), it's okay. We don't want to hurt you." Leon said

After being able to pull away from that lil makeout session, you heavily breathed,"Hah, w-what-AH!!" Leon's tendrils coming from, assuming, his back went under your clothes making you squeal in disgust. It felt slimey and gross. Like slimey snakes slithering under your clothes roaming around. "You're scaring her, Leon." Krauser warned. "Shut up, I know what I'm doing." That's when your shirt lifts up, revealing your bra, pants and shoes removed. "H-Hey, what are you-NO!!" The tendrils rip your bra and underwear off easy revealing your bare chest and cunt. They boys look in awe judging from how quick Krauser was fondling your boobs making you gasp and Leon spreading the lips open down there

Krauser massages and firmly pinches your nipples, pulling them out as they bounce when the grip was loose from them,"Mmm~" The slimey shit from Leon's tendrils made your body glisten and easier for him to glide his hands on you. "Please, moan. I wanna know if I'm doing better than him." Krauser whispered in your ear and Leon glares at him and he kneels down. "L-Leon don't." You gasp when Krauser wraps his arms around your waist pulling you back, laying on top of him. He managed to pull down his pants as his cock was hard already, you sensed it behind your ass,"I'm not taking any chances. I'm going to make her cum first." Krauser said and he shuffles a bit now his dick was under you

It was...pretty big. Well, very appealing to say the least. Leon sees from down below as Krauser reaches for his hard on and rubs against your clit then down to the entrance, he bucks his hips making it push inside. "Ahh~" He starts thrusting into you making you moan and Krauser hum in pleasure. Your tits bounce from the impact of his pounding,"Oh fuck, Krauser! Ohhh~" Krauser start picking up the pace, but Leon's shadow towers both of you and he had his pants down revealing his dick leaking precum,"I'm going to make her feel good, Krauser." Krauser stops and laughs,"I don't think so comrade."

That's when you felt Leon's cock try to push his own inside of your pussy,"Wait, no!! Leon, he is big as it is. You can't fit-ooohh god!!~" He did it anyway. Leon and Krauser let out a moan feeling themselves stretching you more. "Holy shit!~" They said in unision. That's when they both start moving. Two big cocks inside of your cunt. The pleasure was amazing, but the pain of being stretched out was overwhelming. Tears stream down your temples as Krauser kisses your behind your neck,"Yes, yes, I'm doing much better right? Right, (Y/N), urgh fuck!"

Leon heavily pants as his hands was holding your legs open,"No, I am! Those are tears of joy for me, right, mmm god!~" The pain was going away now and all you felt was the wave of an orgasm coming,"Ahh, b-boys, please. Y-You're gonna, ah, make me cum. S-So hard!!" You pick your head up to look down seeing how they were both pounding you, this time more faster. It made your eyes roll back letting out a scream. Leon and Krauser both pull out cumming on top of your pussy, your juices splashing out. Krauser sits you up and he reaches down to finger your pussy and Leon rubs your clit fast side to side,"Cum for us. Cum for us, please!~"

Another wave of an orgasm hits you making you growl and your hips twitch, the squirts forcing itself out. They both reacted in a perverse manner like "Oh fuck yes" "Oh yeah, that felt good?" and now the three of you, taking a breather. Krauser has his arms wrapped around your waist holding you in place. Leon laying his head on your inner thigh caressing your other leg. "So, that is why, hah, you didn't kill me? I don't understand."

"We both agreed to take you in for Saddler, but we both secretly plotted your rescue. But, not until everyone is dead then we can go home." Leon explained causing you to be puzzled,"But, Leon you're infected. They will know." He looks up at you and smiles, his red eyes going back to blue and the veins disappearing-back to normal. "They won't." Krauser chuckles,"Same with me. Just more experienced than Leon, of course. In more ways than one~" Leon glares at Krauser and going back to his infected self again,"Alright then. Another round it is." "WHAT!?"

▌│█║▌║▌║ L̳͈͉̅̊ȍ̸̢̢̮͚̐̚v̸̵̝͙͆̈ͤę̷̵̧̖̫̗̆̊ M̶̷̲̊ͥ͋͟ę̷̵̧̖̫̗̆̊ L̳͈͉̅̊ȍ̸̢̢̮͚̐̚v̸̵̝͙͆̈ͤę̷̵̧̖̫̗̆̊ M̶̷̲̊ͥ͋͟ę̷̵̧̖̫̗̆̊ L̳͈͉̅̊ȍ̸̢̢̮͚̐̚v̸̵̝͙͆̈ͤę̷̵̧̖̫̗̆̊ M̶̷̲̊ͥ͋͟ę̷̵̧̖̫̗̆̊ L̳͈͉̅̊ȍ̸̢̢̮͚̐̚v̸̵̝͙͆̈ͤę̷̵̧̖̫̗̆̊ M̶̷̲̊ͥ͋͟ę̷̵̧̖̫̗̆̊ ║▌║▌║█│▌

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴! 𝗜 𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝘁. 𝗠𝘆 𝘂𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝗼 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗦𝗹𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹~🖤🫣

[mychoombatheroomba]

Thank God, You're Finally Home

Between the Bones (Leon x GN! Reader) - Chapter 15

Leon faces the end of his assessments, and then the two of you face whatever is between the two of you.

(Cross-posted from Ao3)

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Chapter Index

“How are you feeling, rookie?” 

Leon was, despite his aching head, his bruising jaw, the freshly sutured wound in his arm and the exhaustion from a long day and interrupted sleep, in a good mood. How could he not be, after the conversation the two of you had just had? Whatever came next for you, at least you were talking again. At least he got to see you smile. Not much could kill the high that had put him in. Not much, but hearing Major Krauser’s raspy voice sure threatened violence against that happiness.

“I feel like I was woken up with tear gas,” Leon answered, not caring if the Major would think the response too sharp. 

“Upset about that, are you?” Krauser sounded amused as he stepped up to where Leon sat at the edge of the bed. “And here I thought you could handle anything I threw at you.” 

Leon’s brow slid down, the easy expression he’d been wearing becoming something more determined. “I can.” 

“Really? Because no one else had to be carried out of there tonight.”

That fact set stones in Leon’s gut. He’d been so caught up in the pain and panic - and then elation - he’d almost missed the sinking feeling that he had, in the Major’s eyes, made a mistake. 

“What did I tell you about being a hero?”

Leon tensed, his brow twitching. Might as well get right to the point, if this was going where he thought it was. “So did I fail, then?” 

Krauser looked at him, inhaling slow. “Well, that depends. You think you can fight with that arm?” 

Eyes widening, Leon looked up, and any doubts, any worries he had were gone. “I’ve had worse,” he said, and Krauser chuckled. 

He almost looked proud.

“Well alright then, rookie. Get some rest. Report as usual for First Call.” 

And Leon was there, his arm bandaged and his body aching, but standing at attention for those first morning drills. His squad mates had eyed him as he filed in, and in the quiet moments as they waited for Major Krauser to arrive, it was Williams that spoke up at last. “Hell of a night, huh?” 

The laughter that followed was hushed and dry. The sort that was brought about by enduring a shared hardship.

 Leon couldn’t help but smile as Alenko nudged him with a grin. “Good to see you made it, Kennedy.” 

Leon just shrugged. “Wouldn’t miss it.” 

By the time Krauser arrived, Leon’s squad, though tired, though beaten down, was ready. They all stood tall, their jaws set firmly as the Major passed them each a practice knife, the silver blades dull in the dim light of the morning. Combat drills weren’t usually run so early, but Leon knew not to expect Krauser to adhere to a schedule. So, he braced himself, taking some deep breaths as he looked for the appearance you’d told him you would be making. 

Instead, the Major found another way to surprise them. 

“Hold onto those today,” Krauser instructed, pointing to the knife that he’d just handed to Shinoda. The Major was grinning, because of course he fucking was. “Be ready to use them. Now, get your gear.” 

Leon realized then that you’d perhaps only told him half of the final test. He’d assumed a fight with you meant what it usually did: you working your way down the line in the training yard, later in the day. Instead, he learned very quickly that day that Krauser had something else in mind. 

It wasn’t long into the forced march that he saw you - or what he came to realize was you. He hadn’t been sure at first; all he’d seen was the shape of a person moving through the trees. Then, like a shadow, you’d emerged, and there was steel flashing at the throat of the recruit that had fallen behind the rest. 

It was over in a few seconds, and your opponent barely had time to pull his knife from its sheath. Then, he was forced down onto the dirt path, his arm held down and your blade at the back of his neck. 

Leon and the rest of his unit went for their own knives, until Krauser’s voice halted them. “No, no. This isn’t your fight,” he hissed, and everyone stilled. “Don’t worry, the Sergeant has plenty of time. You’ll all get a chance to play.” Leon was suddenly aware of his heart beating more heavily as you stood, helping your defeated opponent up as you did. The intensity he’d come to know from you was back, a suit of armor that kept you well-protected as you moved off the path and into the trees once more. Armor that he saw a chink in when you met his eyes briefly, and he saw a challenge sparkling there in the low light. Then you were gone, and the game truly began. 

And a brutal game it was. 

You didn’t play fair - and Krauser likely had instructed you to do just that. There were nine more recruits to fight through, and it soon became clear that you were taking your time, choosing moments when they wouldn’t expect it. You went after one during the morning exercises, attacking when the recruit was doing push-ups. Leon managed to shout his comrade a warning, letting him get up in time to mount a defense. In the end, though, it didn’t matter. 

Shinoda’s fight came at breakfast, right as he set his food down. The violence earned shouts from the other recruits watching, a savage chorus cheering on the combat. Shinoda was able to use the tables to his advantage, and after a few minutes of cat and mouse play, he managed to land slashes on your arm and leg. 

You still ended the fight as the victor, though, with a slash across the belly. 

“You two train together,” Williams pulled Leon aside, as the group was headed to the firing range. Paranoia had everyone in a stranglehold, and they were all dealing with it in their own way. Williams, it seemed, wanted to plan ahead. “Anything to watch out for? Weaknesses?” 

Leon wasn’t sure how to answer. He knew you better than they did, true, but pointing out your weaknesses felt like a betrayal. Even if you were, in essence, picking them off one by one. But then, would it even matter if they knew? Would they be able to adjust in time to beat you? 

Luckily, Alenko was there to return the favor from the night before and saved Leon from answering. “If you don’t know by now, then you haven’t been paying attention,” he said. 

Alenko must have been paying attention, though, because when you rushed him only moments later, he held his own well enough. At least, he did, until you pulled another blade into the fight - one concealed at the small of your back, beneath your shirt. 

Then, even Leon who had fought you more than anyone else on base felt nervous. You’d never used two knives before, not that he’d seen. Still, as he watched your exchange with Alenko, he realized that you must have been practicing as much with your own squad. You danced with the twin fangs well, and secured another victory in doing so. When you locked your blade against Alenko’s throat, your eyes found Leon’s, and any frustrations he might have had about this new development melted away. 

He’d asked you not to go easy on him, after all. 

So Leon awaited his turn, keeping his guard up with the rest of his squad as the day went by. Some of them came close, but none of them managed to score a victory against you. Not when you had the element of surprise and were armed just as they were. He watched each fight - not quite the easy affairs they once were, but still incredible to behold. At least, as far as Leon was concerned, they were incredible. Steel was an art with you - a song that only you knew the steps to. 

Still, he didn’t let his focus waver. He had to get through this and then, perhaps, he could entertain those thoughts. 

If you were willing. 

Instead of thinking of how beautiful you looked with those weapons, Leon focused on how you were just a touch slower to act with your off-hand, when you had two knives out. How you would sometimes go for the binds he knew you favored, only to reconsider and go for an attack at the last minute. 

Williams was the ninth fight, and she nearly had you. As strong as she was, and with her reach, she was able to cage your weapon against your leg, and nearly ran you through with a stab. Then, your other hand went for your second knife, and you spun to the side. The dulled blade met her neck, and then only Leon remained. 

“Of course Kennedy gets saved for last,” Williams grumbled, not happy with losing. 

Leon wasn’t sure what it meant that everyone had lost so far, but he did his best not to let it affect him. Krauser had trained them well. You had given him the tools he needed to win. All he needed to do was keep alert and apply what he’d learned. 

He kept an eye out through his drills and hand-to-hand sparring and everything in between. The tension dragged just long enough for the anxiety to begin to creep in, with Leon watching for you around every corner. He knew how to stay alert. How to move carefully and watch closely. How to react quickly, if he needed to. He knew that was likely all that saved him, when the time came. 

He was sparring with Alenko when you made your move. He almost didn’t realize you were approaching - Alenko’s eyes widening, and the sound of quick footsteps were the only warning he got. 

He got his block up just in time to fend off the stab you brought down on him, and staved off another as you brought your blade down and around, switching hands. It led to the two of you being locked together for a moment, his hands closed around either of your wrists and your eyes fixed on each other. Leon saw that flare of life in your eyes, the same way you’d looked the night you kissed him, and it sent electricity through him. 

You brought your leg up, kicking him away. Leon took the opportunity to draw his own blade, nostrils flaring as he bent his knees. Raised his guard. 

Something unspoken passed between the two of you - warm and charged - and then you were both rushing forward. 

Leon couldn’t even say what happened in those first few seconds. All he knew was that you moved, and he moved with you, a series of attacks, blocks and ripostes that he got through purely on instinct. His body remembered where to go, what to do, your lessons and Krauser’s ingrained in his bones. He felt your knife brush against his forearm as you twisted it. He felt his own blade do the same when you didn’t get out of the way fast enough. 

When the two of you separated, you were both breathing heavy, neither one of you down for the count. 

And you were almost smiling. 

 “Not going to use both?” Leon asked, pointing at your waist where he knew the second knife was hidden. It was a risk, but you weren’t as used to fighting with the two blades, he’d seen it. Maybe, if you took the bait, you would trip up. Make a mistake. Then he might be able to win.

Or, he’d get cut to theoretical ribbons. 

Either way, he was about to find out because you took the bait. You didn’t give him a response as you pulled your second knife out - you only looked at him with a raised brow and a tilted head. He knew that look, now. It was the expression you took on when you were sure you were going to win. Your funeral. 

Leon found some pride in the fact that, even as you rushed him with two blades, he wasn’t panicked as he used to be. Even with an injured arm, he held his ground. 

His squad mates cheered him on as he traded slashes and stabs with you, but it was all just noise to him. All he could really hear was the sound of the knives parting air, and the sharp exhales you both gave as you attacked and defended. The hiss of pain he made as your knife slashed against his bandages on a failed evasion. God, you were fast. You hardly gave him a moment to breathe, and with two weapons, Leon was on the defensive. He would go for an attack on your arm, and you would counter cut to his arm with your right hand, your other going for his belly. He would dodge a stab to his stomach only to have to block a slash at his throat. 

His mind rushed as he tried to think of a way to get you to trip up. 

He slashed at a diagonal, high to low. Your blades chased his arm as you retreated, then turned towards his midsection. Back arching away to avoid the attack, Leon pressed forward, going for your left shoulder. A feint, one that you raised a block for. The redirected attack was caught, wrist against wrist. 

You made a mistake, then. 

You went for the disarm on instinct, and Leon saw the split second as you changed your mind, deciding that you could end the fight then and there. It was all the time he needed, and he let the knife in his hand fall. 

His left hand was there to catch it, to slash at the arm attacking him and then go for your stomach. You grunted as the first attack landed, the second missing by a hair’s breadth. More cheers, but Leon only heard one thing; the voice in his own mind. 

Damn. 

The knives in your hands flipped, and then you were holding them in a reverse grip. The same way Krauser preferred. 

You were going to end the fight, Leon could see it in your eyes. 

You moved first, attacking high and low. Shoulder, knee - Leon blocked both with wide eyes. Tried to slash down at you but had to move his hand out of the way of your counter cut. 

A flash of steel as you went for his throat. 

Another as he leaned away, and your second knife hooked at the back of his ankle. 

He was falling, then, and his free arm couldn’t stop both the blades you followed him down with. 

But he could raise his own knife in time. 

You settled on top of him, the points of both of your blades finding his throat . . .

. . . and your eyes went wide as you realized you’d been met with steel in your chest. 

You both would have died together, if it were a real fight. One more slow than the other, perhaps, but you’d still assured each other’s end. 

A draw. The closest anyone today had come to winning against you. 

And as Leon looked up at you, his heart nearly burst, because you were smiling at him with so much pride. He couldn’t help but smile back, and the world around the two of you ceased to be. It was no more than a second, but it would stay with Leon for much longer; the image of you above him, eyes sparkling, the sun above you outlining you in gold. You looked from his eyes to his lips and back again, and he swore that you decided something then and there. 

Then, the moment ended. You stood, placing both of your knives in one hand and reaching the other down. When you helped him up, Leon felt like he was floating rather than standing. 

⧫⧫⧫

In the end, only five of ten were deemed ready to move up to the next level of training. A woman named Lawson, who you’d exchanged maybe five words with and Shinoda, who you’d fought the day Krauser had pitted you against two at the same time. Williams and Alenko had passed, too, and you weren’t surprised by the news. Both were good soldiers, and they’d earned their new place in your squad. 

The fifth - the only one you’d truly cared about - was making his way to you now, his eyes somehow bright even after everything he’d endured in the last few hours. But then, he was one of the strongest people you knew. Of course he could make it through these tests and still have it in him to smile when he saw you. 

“Still managed to get another surprise in there, after all,” he said, and the good humor in his voice set you at ease. 

“And you handled it. Told you, you’re getting good at this.” 

“Guess I am,” Leon nodded, before his eyes took on a more serious light. “You still want to have that talk?” 

You expected dread at the mention of it, but instead you just nodded, a sense of inevitability washing over you. After all, you’d had days to reconcile what it was you were feeling. It was time to stop hiding from it. 

“Yeah,” you nodded, looking to the open window of the officer’s barracks and then back. This wasn’t the sort of conversation you wanted to have in earshot of Krauser or anyone else. Especially Krauser. “Let’s walk.” 

And so the two of you set out across the base, tracing a little ways away from the walls. The first few minutes were spent in a comfortable silence, one that you didn’t mind. It was a little reprieve for both of you from the day’s events, a moment to just take in the sounds of evening crickets and the way the sky was getting ready to put on its evening show. 

Calm could only last for so long, though. The two of you understood that better than anyone. And after everything either of you had survived, you didn’t want this to be the thing that finally made you run for your life. So, you waited until you reached the spot you’d been searching for - that little corner behind the mess hall where the cameras were blind and the shadows were long. Leon didn’t question as you led him there, or as you went and leaned against the wall. He settled in beside you, not too close, but not too far. Just within reach.

“Quiet spot,” he observed. 

“That’s the idea,” you nodded. Then, you took a breath and went on. “You said we should just talk about what we’re feeling next time - be flat out.” It was now or never. And you wouldn’t forgive yourself if you let it slip into the latter. “I’m ready to have that talk, if you are.” 

Leon looked over at you, and the hope behind his baby blues was too damn much. “Yeah,” he nodded, “I’m ready.” 

And there was the open ocean, uncharted and unyielding, stretching out before you. Waiting for you to take the plunge. 

Well, fuck it. 

“We’re training to fight things that take people and turn them into something else. Take their souls.” You hated that your voice already started to strain, but you went on. “If it doesn’t happen to us, then there’s a million other things that could go wrong. Us focusing on each other could make us slip up. And when we’re done here, we probably won’t even be put on the same missions half the time. It’s a bad idea. Us being together.” There was some bitter humor in your tone as all of those hard truths were given voice and form. Humor, because there was still one thing that overshadowed them. “And the worst part is that I know all of that . . .”

You didn’t give yourself a chance to second guess.

“. . . and it doesn’t make me want it any less.” 

Leon turned towards you fully, and his gaze drew you in. Unavoidable. Inescapable. You were sure that, in that moment, no one could have looked away from him. Not when he looked so beautifully and unexpectedly elated. You wished you could keep the world from taking that joy from him. 

“You mean that?” 

“I do.”

Then, he blinked and laughed a little. “You’re kind of a tease, you know that?” 

You grinned. “Trust me, pretty boy, you haven’t seen anything yet.” 

“Will I?” He didn’t miss a beat, and you were a little pleased with him catching you off guard like that. 

“That depends,” you countered, turning to face him more fully. You wanted an equal playing field. “Your turn. What are you feeling?” 

Leon didn’t take long to answer. “I think that you know already . . .” you had to give him that much, “. . . but honestly, I think you’ve been the best thing about this place.” 

That admission was almost enough to knock you off your damn feet. A little humor was your only defense. “Pretty sad fucking state of affairs for the base, then.” 

“I’m serious.” He moved a little closer. “Having you has made this all easier. And I meant what I said.” The pink blush dusting his cheeks and ears betrayed his nerves, but he was pushing through it anyway, holding your gaze and speaking in a hushed tone. “You didn’t push things too far.” He looked down at your lips. 

“How far is ‘too far’, then?” you asked, and you almost couldn’t hear your own voice over the pounding in your ears as you leaned in. It was Leon’s last chance to back out. To take the sensible path. Your last chance, too. 

“If we ever get there, I’ll let you know.” 

You’d known it was going to end this way. Still, when the two of you met in the middle, lips crashing together, you felt like you’d been thrown from the top of a building without a parachute. 

All you could do was fall. 

And you fell into the movements of his mouth against yours all too easily, less desperate than the last time. That had been all adrenaline and desire. This, you could tell, was something else. You could feel it in the way his arms moved around you, holding you so gently. So reverently. A hand came up to your jaw, and you responded in kind by putting a hand at his back, feeling the muscles that he had earned through so much pain and perseverance. You pulled him into you, taking care this time to memorize how his body felt against yours - to marvel at how right it felt, despite the distant warnings of your mind. 

Warnings that grew more and more distant as the kiss went on, silenced by a greater desire. A will to get it right, this time. A second chance at a first, you thought, as you wove your other hand into his hair. He groaned a little at the touch, and you couldn’t say what possessed you to slip your tongue between his lips. All you knew was that he didn’t pull away. He met you in equal measure, breathing heavy against you. 

So warm. 

So real. 

The steadiness of it began to turn into something else. Liquid fire, melting away at your belly. You went on kissing him, almost to spite your worries. To fly in the face of the nerves that had choked you day after day. 

Each moment was a risk, but you couldn’t care less. Not when it was Leon in your arms and on your lips. 

It didn’t seem like he cared much, either. 

It might have been seconds or hours by the time you separated. Either way, you were both panting when you got the chance to really breathe, your lips swollen and shining in the low light. “Too far?” you asked, grinning like a fox because you already knew his answer. 

“God, no,” Leon shook his head, laughing.

Your hand traveled from Leon’s hair to his face, in a more tender gesture than you perhaps intended. Still, you couldn’t deny that something in your heart stirred as he leaned into the touch. 

And the smile he gave you . . . it was enough to split the world in two.

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Chapter Index

A/N: The final (for now) Dawid Podsiadło song rec is the "Little Stranger", I had that on repeat while I was writing these last few chapters.

Broken record here, but seriously, thank you all so much for reading! It means the world to me! Stay happy and healthy, and I'll see you in the next chapter!

[resident-rats]

(I'm a little late I think but) for those smut prompts maybe 29 for metaltango ? >:3

Here you go!! :D

Prompt: “First one to cum loses.”

Word count: 1353

[18+ under the cut]

There was a certain kind of privacy which the darkness brought. The current mission being a long one, right then was their third night. Hauled up in yet another safe house, in the middle of nowhere. A constant cycle of adrenaline and it’s comedown. Getting to sleep was proving more and more difficult by the night.

Krauser was on the floor a few feet away, lying on his side facing the wall, while Leon lay restless in his sleeping bag staring up to the ceiling. No idea what time it was. But knowing he’d have to be up in a few hours anyway, preparing for whatever the next day had in stall.

It was hard work, but someone had to do it.

Still, the boredom rattled around his mind. Brain wired and unable to turn off completely. Body still anticipating an attack. It was hell. And no doubt would effect his performance tomorrow.

From the looks of things Krauser was asleep, the man not having moved. It gave Leon some kind of confidence. An idea.

As quietly as he could, Leon moved an arm down, snaking under the elastic of his underwear. Not soft but not quite hard either. It was the only thing he could think of to calm down, get his body into that sense of relaxation. Quietly masturbating in the dead of night wasn’t unheard of between soldiers. More common than not actually. Usually if someone did hear, no one said anything the following day. Like an unwritten code of conduct.

So that was what he was banking on. Lightly tugging away at himself, careful to be soundless. Hoping he could cum fast and get some rest.

The steady swell in his palm was reassuring. Getting to full mast no bother.

He closed his eyes, trying to think of something to get the job done. Trying to urge his mind away from thoughts of Krauser. Not that the man would know, but to jerk off to fantasies of the guy literally next to him? Maybe that was a bit much.

But fuck, was it tempting. Being in close proximity to Krauser for so long with essentially no boundaries or personal space. It was killing him. And knowing exactly what he looked like under those clothes. Each time they ended up in the showers together back on base, Leon couldn’t shake the thought of flattening his tongue over that body, dropping to his knees for the man.

Perhaps it would do the trick. Forget about it once it was over, pretend Krauser was never on his mind while knocking one out.

Without thinking his fist picked up a bit. A light rhythmic sound of his hand shuffling under the layers. It wasn’t super comfortable, but then again, what was while deployed?

Those images played through his head like one very inappropriate slideshow. One no one could ever know about. Pressure building in his lower half. Not fully aware, nor caring about the noise.

Then a moan. Not a loud one. But a moan nonetheless. Soft, slipping past the barricade as his eyes scrunched shut. Not particularly thinking to stop. Almost there.

“Enjoying yourself, rookie?” Grumbled from his left.

Fuck. Instantly he froze.

“Don’t stop on my account, been listening to you for the past five minutes.”

“Shit, I’m sorry Major I-”

“Shut it.” And with that Krauser got up, sleeping bag disregarded as he moved. Oh Leon was fucked. Really fucked. “Know what it’s like, listening to you jerk off like that, huh?” Towering above Leon as his heart raced.

“I’m sorry-” The darkness hiding the blush on his cheeks.

“I said shut it rookie,” Coming down to crouch next to him. “Already heard enough of your whining.” Krauser could kill him and no one would be none the wiser. Say it was the enemy. Couldn’t retrieve the body.

There was a strong silence.

“Get out the bag.”

“What?”

“Don’t make me repeat myself.”

So he did. Hastily unzipping it. Kicking it to around his ankles.

“Good.”

Nothing to mask the heave of Leon’s chest.

Though Krauser was quick. Straddling Leon’s thighs, pinning him in place.

Just as he thought that was going to be it, finally meet his demise, Krauser was reaching into his own fatigues, pulling himself free.

“See what you do to me, Kennedy?”

Just about making out the vague outline of his cock.

“Go on, show me what you were doing.” Krauser spoke again.

The command had Leon moving before it had fully left the man’s lips. Digging himself out, cock finally in the open air.

Krauser just hummed, shifting forward a bit, pressing them together shaft to shaft.

“Gonna play a game with you rookie,” All Leon could do was look up at him. “First one to cum loses.”

“Fuck.” Leon whined, squirming a bit as Krauser’s fist enclosed around them both. Leon’s already wet with precum. Still, Krauser had the foresight to spit.

“Since you can’t keep it in your fucking pants.” Giving them both one broad stroke.

“Krauser.”

“What’s wrong? Think you can’t do it? Didn’t train you to be weak.”

The next stroke had him whimpering, having already been close to the edge before, it wasn’t exactly a fair fight.

“Like that don’t you?”

They slid together, revelling in the hot press of Krauser’s cock against his own. Feeling every twitch and pulse.

Leon couldn’t help rolling his hips, an attempt to match Krauser’s pace.

“Wanna play it that way do you?”

And with that Krauser let go. Lowering himself fully against Leon’s body, one hand slipping under Leon’s neck to cradle it and the other resting next to his head. After that they rolled their pelvises together, cocks rubbing freely, bumping into one another. Krauser’s head almost in the crook of his neck.

“Jesus, Krauser I-” A pitiful noise working it’s way through him, interrupting him mid sentence.

“Gonna cum so quick?”

“Not a loser.” Leon bit back.

It made him laugh, could feel it rum through the man’s body. “That’s the spirit rookie.”

Fuck, he needed more friction though. Chasing the high it brought. Even if that was counter productive. And it seemed like Krauser wasn’t so immune either, able to hear the soft grunts against his ear. And Leon could only imagine how the man looked right then.

Together they found a good tempo, hips clashing together in strong movements. Feeling the way Krauser’s cock dripped onto his.

“Surprised you’re still holding on.” Krauser sounded more than breathless.

“Told you before not to underestimate me.” Broken up by his laboured panting.

With that Krauser sat up again, back to straddling. It would be a lie if Leon said he didn’t miss the close proximity.

“True,” Hand going to wrap around them. “But I don’t play nice.” Only grabbing Leon’s, jerking him with intent.

He was a goner. Well and truly a goner.

“Fuck, Krauser, I’m gonna, I’m gonna-” Half babbling to himself.

“You’re gonna what, huh? Go on, say it.” Still tugging.

“Gonna cum.” And right as he said it, that was it. Cum spurting from him, making a mess of his shirt. Seemingly never ending, continuing to dribble down, leaking like a faucet. All the while Leon could barely think, writhing and crying out beneath. Not exactly stealthy.

“That’s a good boy, get it all out.” Smiling with encouragement.

Once finally done, Krauser then took matters into his own hands.

“Look’s like you’ve lost.” Rigorously jerking himself off, head knocked back bearing his neck.

“Fuck you.” Leon huffed. Watching the shape of the man above him.

“Just a - ah fuck- just a sore loser-” Cut off while giving Leon’s shirt another generous glazing. Feeling the way it landed on him, mixing with the already drying load. The man a lot more contained than what Leon had been. Mostly huffing and groaning.

Once finished, Krauser got off him and both men tidied themselves up.

“Gotta get rest Kennedy, big day tomorrow. You’re on first watch when we stop.”

“What the hell, why?”

“Told you already, you lost.” Getting into his own sleeping bag, amusement thick in the way he spoke.

For this ask game!

[teecupangel]

pops in here bc I’ve been writing Resident Evil crossover AUs for fun (and angst) and I have a fun little idea for you!

so, re4make has dropped some interesting and tasty lore about Los Illuminados, aka the parasite cult that makes up the main bad guys in this particular game. according to the new lore, they popped up in 1554 and were exiled from their old place in 1741. now, we know that mutations and parasites and viruses can possibly extend somebody’s life in REverse beyond their natural lifespan and also make them far more durable than humans. I was thinking—Edward Kenway gets killed in 1735. this we’re well aware of. but what if he wasn’t?

say that Birch is aware of Los Iluminados and their work. he wants to keep a closer eye on them since he hears a lot about Las Plagas and its hive mind abilities, but he’s not about to risk becoming a part of their hive mind—he doesn’t entirely trust this cult. and he has a pesky Assassin who’s just found out that he’s actually a Templar, and who has a book and a son he would defend. if he survives the night—and it’s damn near a guarantee that he would, Birch has heard that he once cleared a whole deck of a galleon on his own—there’s nothing stopping him from taking up his sword and beelining to Birch and just cutting down every last member of the British Rite. but he can’t do that, if he has a bug inside his head.

so Edward gets knocked unconscious, and dragged off to the cult. now Birch has a reason to keep an eye on the cult, and he’s taken Edward out of the picture with no one the wiser for it.

years later—hundreds of years later—Desmond Miles, 17yo runaway, gets kidnapped along with Ashley Graham for whatever reason. maybe he saw too much and immediately launched himself at Krauser and actually managed to acquit himself pretty well in a fight, only to get stuffed into a van along with a very terrified First Daughter. Leon goes to find them.

in the meantime, Saddler has a very fucked-up Edward stand guard, and Desmond starts to talk to this guy, bc something about him seems…not quite the same as the rest of the cult. there’s some core of humanity still holding stubbornly on inside him, even if he looks pretty bad off, if not heavily mutated by now. which is how Leon ends up finding both Ashley and Desmond having managed to get a very snarly pirate to help break them out and has to gently convince said pirate that yes he really is here to help them please put that pitchfork down sir.

Oooohhh, if you wanted to, you can even include one of Ezio’s or Aquilar’s descendants in the lore as well, maybe even both? 1554 is around the time Flavia and Marcello would be 20~21 years old. Old enough to be Assassins that would be sent to foreign lands to help other Brotherhoods. We can even have them be sent by the current mentor of the Spanish Brotherhood because of this cult that supposed worship something ‘strange’. The mentor thought that the Italian Brotherhood who had a mentor who had been quite verse in strange things would have an idea of what they’re dealing with. Flavia or Marcello (or both if you want) asks to be sent because it seems connected to the precursors and, as Ezio Auditore’s children, it’s their duty to continue their father’s legacy.

They meet up with Aquilar’s child (or grandchild maybe?) and they help in exiling Los Illuminados, making the cult hate them and the Brotherhood in the process.

It’s because of their hatred for the Brotherhood that Birch was able to have a distant alliance with them and it’s because of his connection with the cult that Edward starts to suspect him as being a Templar.

(To sprinkle more angst, how about Haytham saw his father being dragged away and tried to save him, killing one of the kidnappers which ends with Teresa seeing him as a cold blooded killer and he is indoctrinated by Birch as a way to try and find Edward but never found him. After learning Birch was the leader of his father’s kidnapping, he gives up on Edward because Birch burned all evidence that will link him to Edward and the Los Illuminados)

Okay, so we go to the Ashley and Desmond part of the story.

Ashley is around 20 years old when she was abducted so, if you’d like, she could be in New York to shop or something when she was kidnapped. Desmond was on his way to his first shift in Bad Weather and saw a woman struggling while being dragged into a car with men looking like professional bodyguards (suit, sunglasses, wired ear pieces) on the ground, unconscious maybe? Dead even?

Desmond didn’t have time to think, his body reacted and he punched one of them. He starts to fight them off while telling the girl to run and the girl tried to, screaming for help but there were more men than they expected but her screaming (and his battle cries, they were not screams, they were battle cries damn it) was attracting attention so they had to book it quickly and Desmond was swept alongside the girl in the process.

Leon is briefed that an unknown man with no past of his own may be with the president’s daughter and he’s a low priority. The most that Leon is expected to do is find out who he was and if he was truly just taken alongside the Ashley because he tried to be a good Samaritan.

Now Saddler though…

Saddler had planned to kill Desmond from the very beginning but then he noticed something peculiar.

Desmond looked familiar.

So he let Desmond live because he needs to find out why Desmond looks familiar at all. He orders Edward to guard them and to keep them there.

Leon starts doing his job and Saddler gets sidetracked.

When he heard that Edward had ‘betrayed’ them, he realized why Desmond looked so familiar.

In one of the oldest journals written by his ancestors, there were sketches of the three Assassins who led to their fall and exile.

And two of them…

… looked very similar to Desmond Miles.

So now, Saddler believes Desmond is a descendant of those who exiled them and wants to infect him as well.

Because what better revenge is there than to have a descendant of those who wronged them become their ‘property’?

Unorganized Notes:

I like to imagine Ashley and Desmond become friends immediately, with Desmond helping Ashley stay calm while Ashley gives Desmond something he wanted ever since he was a child, a close friend.

Ashley would definitely not leave without Desmond and Desmond would do everything he can to keep Ashley safe.

Edward ‘recognize’ Desmond, in a way that Desmond reminds him of his young son, but he doesn’t understand it, because the infection inside him mutated thanks to his ‘bloodline’, so he’s not exactly the same as the others.

Edward will be conflicted though because his infection would make him want to obey the cult but he can't hurt Desmond at all. He doesn't want to and his body will never allow it.

Is it his own free will? The reminder of a past long gone? Or...

The Calculations at work?

[sapphire-weapon]

I'd also like to know your thoughts on the mind control part where Ashley actively fought Saddler and suprisingly managed not to kill Leon. For Leon not to be able to move a muscle except his face, that scene speaks so much about Ashley's strength and will. Literally, Leon owes his life to her as well - and twice, in the whole game (the other being removing the parasite) but like you said before, Ashley never kept score.

There's a subtle hint of "Ashley is mentally stronger than Leon" running through a lot of the game, and it's a shame that the game itself didn't do more with it. In RE4, she's a year younger than he was in RE2, and she ends up thriving by the end of her journey, whereas he ended up with thoughts of putting a gun to his head.

I think that that was really supposed to be the point conveyed in the "Keep this up, and I'll be out of a job" scene, but idk I feel like it didn't really go far enough. And the only reason I say that is because we know that Ashley disappears from the series after RE4, so RE4 itself is the only opportunity to explore that parallel.

Because, like. I think, in many ways, Ashley is a reflection of what Leon could have been if Ada had never come into his life. And while that might sound harsh, it's also... true? Ashley ends up as strong and confident as she does because she had Leon at her back, keeping her steady the whole time.

But in RE2, just as Leon himself was reaching that point, the rug got pulled out from under him and it all came crashing down once it came out that Ada had been lying to him and was, in many ways, no better than the people who'd caused this mess in the first place. It's really hard to overstate what that kind of deception and betrayal does to a person, and it was really refreshing to have RE4make actually show the fallout of that (whereas OG just kind of ignored it). RE4make Leon is cold and closed off and, for a significant chunk of the game (basically from the start all the way up to about the aftermath of the cabin sequence), he has complete tunnel vision and relies strictly on his training to get him through -- very likely because he has a hard time trusting his own judgment anymore. (Which is why I love that they added in Krauser saying 'You always had poor judgment' in the scene leading into his boss fight, where the goal is to get under Leon's skin as much as possible.)

Like. Leon didn't end up suicidal for no reason -- and he's the only one out of all of the Raccoon City survivors to turn out that way. Imagine how much more he would've flourished if Ada really had been FBI -- if that betrayal had never happened, and Leon had been able to walk out of Raccoon City feeling good about the role that he played there.

It would've been a completely different ballgame. He would've been a completely different character.

And yet, despite all of that, there's probably something to really be said about the fact that Leon still manages to inspire Ashley to move forward despite the fact that he, himself, has spent the last six years just running in place. It goes back to the whole "Ashley is Leon's legacy" thing that I've talked about before, but.

It just sucks that Ashley drops out of the story and there's no real follow-up to it.

[theggning]

Different anon than who spoke to sapphire-weapon but holy shit give me ALL of your metaltango thoughts from both OG and Remake please! That pairing is somethin' else.

ALL of them? Oh, anon, there's far too many for that... I do have plenty of thoughts though so if there's any specifics you might like do feel free to ask.

What I will do here is lay out some differences between Leon and Krauser's relationship (hypothetically romantic or otherwise) between OG and the remake and thus two different flavors of metaltango. Because Leon and Krauser are both pretty different characters between versions, *especially* Krauser, the differences make for some really interesting contrasts.

OG METALTANGO:

Leon and Krauser literally meet for the first time during Operation Javier (Darkside Chronicles version.) They are much more equal in standing and prestige, where Krauser is a career soldier with years of experience under his belt and Leon is the government's golden boy. There is kind of a gesture towards Krauser feeling jealous of Leon for this reason, but... well, there's kind of a lot of vague gestures made about Krauser's motivations that have always struck me as silly. (Poorly executed, to say the least.)

Because they meet for the first time on OJ and Krauser is immediately injured, any canon-compliant relationship between the two is going to have to happen in the aftermath/weeks and months after the mission. I've always kind of liked the idea that Leon befriends Krauser and they spend this time hanging out while Krauser is sidelined/in rehab to recover from his injuries. This has kind of been my go-to headcanon here, because otherwise there just really isn't any time for these two to even befriend one another apart from what's depicted in canon.

Once he decides to join up with Wesker to get his arm fixed/POWERRRR, Krauser fakes his death in a helicopter crash. This is presumably the source of the scars on his face in OG. Also, because he was discharged from the military, we are left to assume this helicopter crash happened while he was doing mercenary work (OG Krauser is said to work as a mercenary when he's not on duty with the military, because he feels unfit for normal society outside of the battlefield.)

OG Krauser works for Wesker, is genuinely loyal to him, and seems to genuinely enjoy his job. He joins up with the cult perhaps a few weeks before Ashley's kidnapping... and it is implied that the kidnapping was his idea to begin with to win Saddler's trust? Which it does not, incidentally. But I guess Saddler decides to opportunistically capitalize on the kidnapped head of state's daughter anyway. (OG Los Illuminados are a bunch of incompetent chucklefucks and their plans are completely doomed from the get go, ask me sometime.)

OG Krauser is sent by Saddler specifically to kill Leon, a task which he takes up with gusto due to... I don't know actually. If there's one constant with Krauser it's that his hatred for Leon is never really adequately explained, though at least the remake gives us a boatload of subtextual interpretations. I think OG metaltango is funniest if you interpret Krauser's grudge against Leon as the over-the-top actions of a jilted ex who left Leon on read when he got the breakup text (and also faked his death.) Anyway, one thing that really strikes me is how much fun Krauser seems to be having in OG. He's like, genuinely delighted to be attempting to murder Leon and with his plans to hand Leon's corpse over to Wesker once he's dead. (Put a pin in this one, it's a BIG change in remake.)

Leon is a lot more irritated with Krauser in OG and at least doesn't show an *unwillingness* to fight back. Only once Krauser has fallen does he lament that he "used to be a good guy..." He also seems really upset at Saddler boasting that he never trusted Krauser and the implication that Saddler was only using him.

Ada being the one to "really" kill Krauser in OG is dumb and has always been dumb, imo, and is more than likely an artifact of OG SW's clumsy development and what assets they had to work with.

REMAKE METALTANGO:

okay there is... a LOT more to work with here. Chiefest and most obviously, Krauser is now Major Krauser, and was Leon's commanding officer/mentor. This gives the two of them a much closer and more personal relationship, as well as 4+ whole years to work with, timeline-wise (Operation Javier happened in 2002.)

The mentor/student relationship provides another really delicious power dynamic to work with, shipping-wise. Yes, it's inappropriate for a military officer to have an affair with one of his subordinates, but we are also right in the middle of Don't Ask Don't Tell here so it's also literally forbidden for a soldier to be anything but heterosexual and still keep their job. Also consider, it's hot? Also like, bruh... if you're looking for Pure Wholesome Shipping Dynamics you are looking in the wroooooong ship.

Krauser is fulltime military this time around, no merc work to speak of (or at least no evidence of it.) He also never fakes his death in the remake. He has current contacts within the Secret Service AND is running around using his REAL NAME and ACTUAL military credentials to buy ordnance for Saddler (per SW,) there is absolutely no way we're meant to believe this man is legally dead.

There is evidence that Krauser showed special attention or favoritism to Leon, at least a little bit. Not only is Leon allowed to keep his hair while training (getting your head shaved/your hair cut short is like Basic Training Day One stuff,) but in the opening cutscene we see Leon and Krauser training in private in what appears to be a storage room- not a normal training space. Leon is the government golden boy here, but Krauser is also in charge of a whole unit of special forces guys. Somebody is getting private tutoring from the Major.

Leon respects and trusted Krauser. Krauser is said to have always been "an asshole" but also a man of honor. He is suggested to have been a difficult commanding officer, but also one who cared very deeply about his men and is traumatized by their avoidable deaths in OJ. (This one's my personal opinion, but I really can't stand the interpretation of Krauser having been an awful abusive piece of shit from the get go. Kind of wrecks the tragedy of his fall for me when he was always a cruel bastard. Why exactly would Leon trust, respect, want to emulate, or mourn such a person?)

So you could kind of intuit some trauma into OG Krauser, if you squinted. But there is absolutely no question that remake Krauser is suffering from some pretty massive PTSD. Along with his general unhingedness, all of his actions fit perfectly when viewed through a lens of a very, very traumatized man, used and abandoned by the government he trusted, desperate to gain the power that could have saved his men, and himself-- and the power to keep himself relevant so he can't be used and hurt again. I interpret that Krauser had his face scarred in OJ as well (he doesn't have the scars in the flashback scene with Leon.)

Remake Krauser joined Los Illuminados of his own free will, because they offered him the power to fix his crippled arm-- and the aforementioned power to unsuccessfully "fix" his trauma. But also, maybe it's just me, but I feel like remake Krauser does not give a fuck about the cult. He's loyal to Saddler, yes, but he openly disbelieves the cult religion ("Faith is for the weak, only power matters.") He commands the island mercs and helped set up the defenses, but he's also out here buying warheads under his own name. There is no way he doesn't think he's going to be caught by the U.S. sooner than later-- he just doesn't care. None of his notes read to me like somebody who genuinely thinks the cult has a chance to take over the world. Krauser joined these idiots so he could drink the juice, now the juice is all gone and he's still empty inside.

OG Krauser seemed to be having fun and set up his Leon deathmaze/training ground/mating display for a laugh. Remake Krauser, on the other hand, seems absolutely batshit out of his mind at this point-- alternating between the maze being a "final lesson" for Leon and a deathwish enactment mechanism for himself. Like... between Krauser's general demeanor and the "finish what happened two years ago" talk, this does not feel like a fight that Krauser wants to walk away from, whether or not he kills Leon. If OG Krauser killed Leon, he planned to bag him up and present him to Wesker like a trophy. If remake Krauser did... like, what's he going to do? Can you possibly picture him washing his hands of his blood and going back to work for Saddler? Because I sure can't. (I have a much longer meta piece in mind for this point... like I want to dissect the remake Krauser boss fight and his motivations therein at some point. Let me know if this sounds interesting.)

Remake Leon absolutely does not want to fight Krauser. Krauser forces every single encounter the two of them have. Even though Leon says "you won't get away with this" after Luis' death, he has absolutely no desire nor intention to hurt or kill Krauser back. He asks, over and over, if Krauser is "sure about this" and tries to talk sense into him. He is ready to straight up run away from the boss fight the first chance he gets.

I could probably write a whole other essay on Krauser's final moments and Leon stabbing him, which was one of the most shocking and powerful moments of the remake for me for several reasons. Like... god damn. Did anybody else think Leon was going to do the whole "I'm not like you and I won't do it" thing? (Though arguably it was more heroic/merciful/kind of Leon to put Krauser out of his misery here. Krauser clearly wanted it!!)

I was going to go to Capcom and chain myself to the doors in protest if they put the dumb stupid Krauser boss fight redux in Separate Ways after THAT absolutely poetic ending for him. Glad they didn't. Glad they actually showed Wesker picking up his corpse this time rather than handwaving it offscreen years after the fact.

If somebody has a heterosexual explanation for that picture of Leon in Krauser's tent, I'd certainly like to hear it. Because... bruh.

Well that felt extremely disjointed and pointless... But I hope it was useful or at least gave you some delicious food to feast on? (Or other ideas to interrogate me about, lmao.) Krauser is my favorite RE villain. For OG Krauser it was mostly for comedy reasons, but I am absolutely delighted that the remake gave him some real genuine pathos and a really compelling relationship with Leon.

Anyway, tl;dr metaltango, OG or remake: I ship it and I think it would be hot if they banged.

[metaltangodiva]

what are your thoughts on the different 'versions' of Krauser as well his various dynamics with Leon? Also do you have any advice for like...not being afraid to add your own interpretations and spins to characters? Like i think i care way too much about what people would think, so i'm a but scared to start posting anything, but at the same time I'd love to add to the fic collection lol

Hello hello~!

I wanna preface this quickly by saying I'm fucking unable to summarize anything, lmao. This turned out to be TWO ESSAYS.

I'll start by replying to the second question, because I sorta realized, about halfway through the answer, that I was writing a fucking essay on Metaltango and I didn't wanna overlook the second point of your message. Because it's super important to me, as a writer (amateur/hobbyist, but writer nonetheless) that people who want to write can do it.

And my suggestion is super easy: do it. Write the thing.

I know it's hard, I went through it too. It's hard to not compare yourself to other people, to go and think "man, they're not gonna like how I portray them". When I started writing "Normal", that was my worry. I was taking these badass, gun-toting, zombie-killing, masculine characters and putting them into a situation that's not only opposite to that, but pretty damn taboo in general. I've had Comments™. But whatever.

And what I tell people, when they say they're worried about how their stories are gonna be received, maybe because it takes a weird non-canon spin, or they feel their tropes are overdone, is:

Do it anyways. There's only you to craft that story you wanna see the way you want it; no one else can do it the exact same, even with the same prompts, the same tropes, the same characters. Everyone views things differently, and I think it's an amazing thing when it comes to art, well... almost everything, honestly. A saying that goes in a Discord server I hang out on is "there's nothing original anymore", but not in a bad way at all — so many works have the same themes, and yet they all still stand out somehow.

I might not the audience. This guy next to me might be, though! Or who knows, maybe *I* am the audience!

But you don't know any of this until you write it. Do it.

OKAY SO I GUESS THAT WAS PART ONE, lol.

SO LET'S GOO FOR PART TWO!

My thoughts on the different versions: I love them! Each version and each game brings something new to the table. I got started with RE4 (VR) — I liked how *aggressively homoerotic* that knife fight was.

Since it was my entry point to RE as a whole, I was curious as to *who* Krauser was, what was his relation to Leon, what happened between them, so on, so forth. Probably what a lot of people went through before Darkside Chronicles became a thing. His obsession for Leon and especially the *passion* behind it. Surely what happened between them was personal!

Then I heard of Darkside Chronicles and I had to play it for myself. So I did. And I was positively surprised when I saw Krauser as he was back around 2002. Gruff, rough around the edges, but just as snarky as Leon — and I love snarky characters. I felt their humor meshed so well. The "boy scout" exchange has lived rent-free in my head since I heard it. Same with the shared water bottle/indirect kiss. The snake/butterfly. Krauser starting as kinda dismissive of Leon, but quickly wisening up about it and treating him as an equal (and I feel it's more than that). And this became what I really wanted to see between them on the long run, hence why I started writing the AU "Normal" takes place in. They were such a good team, in spite of Krauser's wildly varying emotions.

Then RE4R came out, and it introduced them in a mentor/trainee relationship and I love that too. It's a whole different dynamic; Krauser's more serious but still does not shut up, Leon is still a smart mouth — I guess they clashed a lot overall and Leon can probably thank Krauser for all the extra push-ups and laps that gave him this *chef kiss* physique... but Krauser has a soft side to him. The guy really cared for his men, but as an instructor, as a soldier, as a superior and also as a human, probably couldn't voice it all too well. I cried when Leon picked up Krauser's knife, kneeled next to him and Krauser told him he was proud of him. That he had trained him well. It's a dynamic I wish I could capture well enough to put in words, but my real-life experience with anything army-related is nonexistent (well, so is my ageplay/military/"life as a couple" experience with "Normal", lol) and I feel I'd have a harder time with portraying it how I want to. So... I'm eventually gonna do it, outside of oneshots.

TLDR: Give me all the Krausers. They all bring something to the table <3